Tag Archives: Kip Keino Classic

Athletics

Ferdinand Omanyala storms to 100m World Leading time

He came and he conquered just as he had promised. It was a show like never before and never seen in the country as the fastest man in Africa lit up the fourth edition of the Kip Keino Classic, the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour at the Kasarani stadium on Saturday (13) in Nairobi.

The Commonwealth Games 100m champion, stormed with a world leading time of 9.84 ahead of the  American Kenneth Bednarekwho came home in second place with a season best of 9.98 as his season best with compatriot Marvin Bracy-Williams closing the podium three finishes with a season best of 10.03 seconds .

The entire stadium was taken to a standstill as Kenyan Stephen Odhiambo was shown the red card following a false start.

Athletics

Timothy Herman beats experienced field to win men’s javelin at Kip Keino Classic

Belgium’s Timothy Herman set a meet record time as he won the Men’s javelin competition at the fourth edition of Kip Keino Classic at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi.

The 32 year-old took the title with a throw of 87.35m and was followed by the two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada who threw 85.72m on his first-ever appearance at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event.

Egyptian Ihad Abdelramah, winner of last year’s edition, finished third with a throw of 81.04m.

South Africa’s Douw Smit finished in fourth with the 2016 Olympics silver medalist Julius Yego in fifth place with a throw of 78.83mand 77.24m respectively.

“The Kenyan people are crazy and I’m impressed and I will definitely come back to Kenya next year.

“I didn’t expect to win here today but I’m excited and this was due to good preparations.

“I still have some more throws ahead of the World Championships where I’m eyeing a title,” Herman underlined.

This was Herman’s second appearance at the Kip Keino Classic from the second edition in 2021 where he threw 77.73m to finish third.

Athletics, Doping

Samuel Imeta nabbed for doping

Anti-doping Agency of Kenya (Adak) has nabbed 15 Kenyan athletes among them being the fast rising Samwel Imeta for using three prohibited substances which is a violation of the World Anti-doping

The 24 year-old, who recently hit a personal best at the Athletics South Africa Grand Prix, where he clocked 10.22 seconds behind compatriot Ferdinand Omanyala who breasted the tape in 10.05 seconds was immediately withdrawn from Kipkeino Classic after receiving his notification letter from Adak on May 11, 2023.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) athlete nicknamed “Kifaru”, Swahili word for rhino, who earned the nickname from his coach after flattening a try line-bound opponent in a Kenya Cup match, had vowed to blaze to the podium at the Kip Keino Classic, with a promise of making Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala sweat for his victory.

During their first ever meeting at the sixth edition of the Athletics Kenya Track and Field meeting held at Nyayo National Stadium, Imeta managed to finish in second place in final of men’s 100m race with a wind assisted time of 9.94 second behind the Commonwealth Games 100m champion Omanyala.

Imeta has gone down with the World under 20 3,000m silver medalist Zenah Jemutai and Africa 800m champion Jarinter Mawia.

Those flagged are

  1. Samuel Imeta (100m)- Anabolic Androgenic steroid
  2. Zenah Jemutai (3,000m)-Triamcinolone acetonide
  3. Jarinter Mawia (800m) – EPO
  4. Evangeline makena (10,000m)
  5. Hanna mwangi (400m hurdles)
  6. Gladys Nthena Musyoki (400m)
  7. Agnes Mumbua (5,000m)
  8. Bernard Cheruiyot Chepkwony
  9. Victor Koskey
  10. Collins Koros
  11. Amos Kiprotich
  12. Stephen Kipchirchir Kiplagat
  13. Erick Kiptoo
  14. John Kariuki Gikonyo
  15. Cynthia Kendi

 

Athletics

Safaricom announces Kshs 9.2m Sponsorship for Kipkeino Classic

Safaricom PLC has boosted the fourth edition of the Kipkeino Classic Continental Tour with a sponsorship of KES 9.2 million.

The sponsorship will include provision of internet connectivity at the event to support key functional areas such as the media centre and streaming services, while Kshs 2.2 million will be in the form of cash incentives for athletes who break records with each getting Ksh 250,000.

“As Safaricom, we are big on supporting athletics in Kenya as part of our commitment to support the growth of sports in the country and provide local athletes with a platform to hone their talent and earn from their passion. We have supported the Kip Keino Classics for the past three years, and this year we are equally proud to be associated with it in a more significant way,” said Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom.

This year’s Kip Keino Classic has attracted over 200 top-level athletes from different parts of the world, who are expected to square it out with Kenyan athletics champions in different categories. The event will be streamed and broadcast live on local TV.

Some of the high profiled athletes that will grace the event include Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala, three-time Olympic Champion in 100m Shelly-Ann Facer-Pryce from Jamaica; Commonwealth Games 800m champion, Mary Moraa, 200m Olympic Games Silver Medalist and six-time Diamond League meeting winner Kenneth Bednarek from the USA, the 2018 Commonwealth Games 400m champion, Isaack Makwala from Botswana and the sixth fastest woman in the world Sha’Carri Richardson from USA among others.

Athletics

Absa Bank pumps Millions into Kipkeino Classic

The fourth edition of the Absa Kip Keino Classic, the World Athletics Continental Tour gold meeting scheduled for next weekend, receives a massive sponsorship to tune of a whopping 50 million towards the event.

The Absa CEO, Abby Mohammed was proud to be associated with this major event as he gave the largest sponsorship of Kshs 50m towards the Kipkeino Classic event. “For us we are happy to be sponsors of this major and exciting event and we are more than proud of partnering with Athletics Kenya for the third year in row. For the past three events we have seen it getting better in each edition, said Mohammed.

The May 13th show was today disclosed that the government has waived the entry fee and encouraged Kenyans to watch the race.

The event has been categorized into two with National event starting at 10:00am which will have six key events while the core event will begin in the afternoon.

Mohamed the Absa CEO, said the masterstroke performances of Kenyan athletes across several disciplines had provided the bank with the incentive to continue supporting the noble cause.

Kip Keino meet director, Barnaba Korir disclosed that they had set aside attractive incentives to lure big names to the event.

Speaking during the event, Kip Keino Classic meet manager Kennedy Tanui said that a total of 204 athletes have confirmed to participate in the one-day event.

“The event is going to be one of the most thrilling and the most spectacular in terms of the value and content that World Athletics will bank on for the future of Africa in event organizations,” Tanui said.

The colorful ceremony was also graced by the Sports Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei.

Athletics

Ferdinand Omanyala to make his Diamond League debut in Rabat

The reigning Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala has confirmed he will be making his debut at the Rabat Diamond League Meeting that will be held on May 28, 2023 in Rabat, Morocco.

The Diamond League season-opener is set for May 5 in Doha, Qatar and it is part of the 14 best invitational meets that make up the annual track and field athletics series.

Omanyala who is the Africa 100m record holder was speaking in Gaborone, Botswana, where he said his ultimate target will be winning the Diamond League trophy.

“I have invitations for Rabat, Florence, Italy on June 2 and Paris, France on June 9. I hope to get more invites towards the end of the season,” said an excited Omanyala.

Omanyala stormed to victory with a world leading time of 9.78 dash at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix ahead of double World U20 champion Letsile Tebogo, from Botswana who clocked 9.91. However, his time could not be ratified as a world lead despite being the fastest this year, due to a tailwind.

Omanyala heads to the US for the Adidas Atlanta City Games before returning home for the Kip Keino Classic on May 13, where he intends to break his African record.

Athletics

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to defend her Kip Keino Classic title

Three times Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will be back in Nairobi with a bang as she focuses on defending her Kip Keino Classic title in Nairobi on May 13th in Nairobi.

The 36 year-old who won the title last year will launch her season at the Gaborone Continental Tour meet in Botswana that will be held on April 29th before heading to Nairobi for the Kip Keino Classic.

In a video released to the public, Fraser-Pryce asked her Kenyan fans to get tickets for the May 13, 2023 Absa Kip Keino Classic as she will be seeking to show the form that she displayed last year.

“I will be in Nairobi on May 13 for the Kip Keino Classic and I’ll be racing over the 100m,” said Fraser.

“Last year was awesome! Fantastic!… The stadium was filled with so much excitement and noise and crowds and music, and it was so much fun.

“Make sure you guys get your tickets because I wanna see you in Nairobi on May 13, and we’re gonna have some fun, and of course we’re gonna have some fast times and rock that stadium like we did last year!”

Athletics

Edward Zakayo sets record as he also qualifies for World Championships

World U20 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo Pingua set a stadium record at the BoXX United Manchester World Athletics Continental silver Tour held on Friday (03) in Manchester Regional Arena, United Kingdom.

Zakayo who finished fifth last month at the Kip Keino Classic and holds a life time best of 13:03.19 that he got at the 2019 Golden Gala, battled for honors with the joint Dutch record holder in the 5000m, Mike Foppen, compatriot, Michael Kibet, who is the winner of the first Athletics Kenya Weekend Meeting and the 2020 Norwegian 5000m Athletics Champion, Narve Gilje Nordås.

The 20 year-old took charge of the race with two laps to go and he never looked back as he forged ahead and crushed the Stadium record with a season best of 13:13.03 which also propelled him to attain the World Championships qualifying mark.

Zakayo was followed by Foppen who crossed the line in second in 13:25.40 with Nordås closing the podium three finishes in 13:26.64.

Kibet had no option but to settle in fourth with his second fastest time over the distance of 13:28.11.

Athletics

Mary Moraa gets her sweet revenge in Rabat

World Under 18 400m silver medalist Mary Moraa got a sweet revenge after beating Prudence Sekgodiso at the Rabat Diamond League held on Sunday (5) in Rabat, Morocco.

Sekgodiso who is the second fastest in 800m with a time of 1:58.41 behind Caster Semenya beat Moraa last month at the Kip Keino Classic.

The 21 year-old clocked a personal best of 1:58.93, beating her previous time of 1:59.25 from last year. This time propelled her to attain the World Championships qualifying mark.

Sekgodiso who is the second fastest runner this season (1:58.41) after Anjee Wilson (1:58.18) was forced to settle in second place in 1:59.23.

The 2016 European silver medallist, Renelle Lamote from France finished in third place in 1:59.83.

Kenyans Naomi Korir and Jarinter Mawia Mwasya finished in ninth and twelveth place in a time of 2:02.14 and 2:10.27 respectively.

Athletics

Beatrice Chepkoech the star to watch at Pre Classic

World 3000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech will be the star to watch as she faces four fastest runners over the distance at the Pre Classic Diamond League Meeting that will be held on Friday (27) in Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

The 30-year-old who holds the world’s fastest time of 8:44.32 that she set three years ago, will lead a star studded field that include Tokyo 3000m women steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai from Uganda, the 2017 World champion, Emma Coburn from the United States, Courtney Frerichs, the Olympic silver medalist.

Chepkoech who is fresh from claiming the Kenyan women title last month with a time of 9:28.34 will be making her first international outing this season.

Chemutai made her first appearance this season at the Kip Keino Classic where she took bronze medal after finishing behind the Kenyan-Kazakhstan runner, Norah Jeruto who took the honors.

Coburn will be taking part in her first steeple since the Olympic final, where she fell over a barrier while out of contention on the final lap, crossed the finish line 14th and was later disqualified for stepping off the track amid the stumble.

Frerichs who is also the 2017 World silver medallist, lowered her American record at Pre last year when she crossed the line in a life time best of 8:57.77.